diff --git a/docs/pages/release_notes.md b/docs/pages/release_notes.md
index e8d7cdbf90..3a8d070f22 100644
--- a/docs/pages/release_notes.md
+++ b/docs/pages/release_notes.md
@@ -15,9 +15,18 @@ This is a {{ site.pmd.release_type }} release.
 ### 🚀 New and noteworthy
 
 ### 🐛 Fixed Issues
+* pmd-java
+  * [#5050](https://github.com/pmd/pmd/issues/5050): \[java] Problems with pattern variables in switch branches
 
 ### 🚨 API Changes
 
+#### Deprecated for removal
+
+* pmd-java
+  * {%jdoc java::lang.java.ast.ASTRecordPattern#getVarId() %} This method was added here by mistake. Record
+    patterns don't declare a pattern variable for the whole pattern, but rather for individual record
+    components, which can be accessed via {%jdoc java::lang.java.ast.ASTRecordPattern#getComponentPatterns() %}.
+
 ### ✨ External Contributions
 
 {% endtocmaker %}
diff --git a/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/ast/ASTRecordPattern.java b/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/ast/ASTRecordPattern.java
index 8de3dd187c..874570e383 100644
--- a/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/ast/ASTRecordPattern.java
+++ b/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/ast/ASTRecordPattern.java
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ public final class ASTRecordPattern extends AbstractJavaPattern {
 
     /**
      * Return the patterns for each record component.
+     *
+     * @since 7.3.0
      */
     public ASTPatternList getComponentPatterns() {
         return firstChild(ASTPatternList.class);
@@ -47,7 +49,9 @@ public final class ASTRecordPattern extends AbstractJavaPattern {
     /**
      * Returns the declared variable.
      *
-     * @deprecated This method was added here by mistake
+     * @deprecated This method was added here by mistake. Record patterns don't declare a pattern variable
+     * for the whole pattern, but rather for individual record components, which can be accessed via
+     * {@link #getComponentPatterns()}.
      */
     @Deprecated
     public ASTVariableId getVarId() {
diff --git a/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/symbols/JRecordComponentSymbol.java b/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/symbols/JRecordComponentSymbol.java
index 4906a0facb..ef5d130868 100644
--- a/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/symbols/JRecordComponentSymbol.java
+++ b/pmd-java/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/symbols/JRecordComponentSymbol.java
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.java.types.Substitution;
  * with a private final {@link JFieldSymbol} and a public
  * {@linkplain JMethodSymbol accessor method}.
  *
- * @since 7.0.0
+ * @since 7.3.0
  */
 public interface JRecordComponentSymbol extends JAccessibleElementSymbol, BoundToNode<ASTRecordComponent> {
 
diff --git a/pmd-java/src/test/resources/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/performance/xml/StringInstantiation.xml b/pmd-java/src/test/resources/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/performance/xml/StringInstantiation.xml
index d89377f03b..c38e4cb5f6 100644
--- a/pmd-java/src/test/resources/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/performance/xml/StringInstantiation.xml
+++ b/pmd-java/src/test/resources/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/java/rule/performance/xml/StringInstantiation.xml
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ public class Foo {
 ]]></code>
     </test-code>
     <test-code>
-        <description>FP in switch</description>
+        <description>FP in switch #5050</description>
         <expected-problems>0</expected-problems>
         <code><![CDATA[
             class Example {